AUTUMN COLOURS OF NORTHERN

Following on from many successful spring seasons in Japan, we are delighted to be returning to the country for autumn 2021, a magical time of year when the landscapes burst into colour with the arrival of the autumn leaves. Our unique voyage aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky focuses on the island of , Japan's northernmost and least developed island which is often considered by the Japanese to be the country's last frontier and is a world away from the traditional view of Japan. Only colonised by Japan in the past 150 years, we won't find a land of ancient temples and shrines or developed cities with skyscrapers but instead large swathes of wild, open spaces, primeval forests, crystal clear lakes, beautiful alpine flowers, active volcanoes and bubbling hot springs. We will also spend time on Honshu visiting the former Feudal town of Hirosaki, the spectacular Towada Hachimantai National Park and Oirase Gorge.

During our time cruising around the remarkable island of Hokkaido, we will explore nature trails, watch for wildlife in the national parks, learn more of the indigenous and hopefully see landscapes burst into colour with the arrival of the autumn leaves that should coincide with our visit. More than two million acres on Hokkaido are dedicated to national parkland and we will visit some of the most remarkable including the Shiretoko National Park located on the north eastern tip of the island and which in Ainu means 'end of the the richest integrated ecosystems in the world and in 2005 world'. UNESCO has called it one of designated it as a World Heritage Site. We will have a full day to explore the national park, home to brown bears, Yezo sika deer and red fox whilst birders can keep an eye out for Steller sea

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com eagles, Blakiston fish owl and white-tailed eagles. We also visit the Nezu Museum which exhibits an excellent collection of the Kushiro Marshlands, home of Hokkaido's resident Japanese and East Asian art. Hidden away in its spacious red-crowned cranes, Japan's iconic bird known as the bird of forest-like garden you will find ponds, stone lanterns and happiness and the lakes of central Hokkaido including beautiful several tea houses. The afternoon and evening are free to relax Lake Akan. in the hotel or explore independently.

Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and Day 4 Tokyo to travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert naturalist, our knowledgeable Guest Speaker and three Japanese guides, all adding immeasurably to your enjoyment After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled and understanding of this fascinating country. flight to Sapporo. On arrival transfer to the port of Otaru where we will embark the MS Island Sky. Tonight enjoy welcome ITINERARY dinner and drinks as we sail.

Day 1 London to Tokyo, Japan Day 5 Rishiri Island

Fly by scheduled flight. Sail this morning into to the Rishiri-Rebun- Sarobetsu National

Day 2 Tokyo Park and berth at Rishiri Island where the skyline is dominated by the dormant volcano of Mount Rishiri, which climbs to 1721 metres. An island drive will include the beautiful scenery at Arrive today and transfer to our hotel for a two night stay. The Himenuma Pond and Kutsugata Cape Park whilst we hope to remainder of the day is at leisure before we meet for dinner this see black woodpecker during a walk at the Forest Park. There evening. will also be free time to explore the town or visit the hot springs. Sail in the early evening to where we will clear Day 3 Tokyo immigration formalities this evening.

Day 6 Korsakov, Russia After breakfast in the hotel we will make our way to the Meiji Shrine which is dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. Arrive this morning at Korsakov where we will clear into Russia. Surrounded by over 100,000 trees, Meiji is an oasis of serenity Once the formalities are concluded we will explore part of this and spirituality in a city that never sleeps. We will continue to city which was founded in 1853 as Sakhalin's first Russian

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com military post. From here we drive to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the Ainu culture, clothing, legends and crafts at the Hokkaido capital of the island with a population of just over 160,000. Museum of Northern Peoples which also provides an insight into Founded as a small Russian settlement in the 1880s, the city the cultures and traditions of the peoples inhabiting the became a Japanese prefect capital when the southern half of sub-Arctic regions of the globe including Inuit and Sami. Sakhalin was declared a Japanese colony in 1905; after World Afterwards we travel the short distance to the Okhotski Sea Ice War II it was returned to Russia. Highlights include a visit to the Museum which offers insight into the sea ice that surrounds the Russian Orthodox Church and the Regional Museum housed in city during the winter. Return to the MS Island Sky for lunch and an impressive former Japanese mansion. Return to the ship this spend the afternoon on deck as we sail around the Shiretoko afternoon as we return to Japanese waters. Peninsula and into the Nemuro Channel where we will keep an eye out for wildlife on land and in the water. Day 7 Abashiri & Shiretoko National Park, Japan Day 9 Kushiro

We arrive in Hokkaido this morning at the port of Abashiri where we will spend a day and a half. There will be a full day excursion Today we will visit the Kushiro Marshlands, Japan's largest to the Shiretoko National Park which covers the majority of the wetland and marsh habitat and home to the only known Shiretoko Peninsula and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due population of Japan's sacred redcrowned cranes. The cranes to the diversity of its ecosystems. This remote and untouched were thought to have been made extinct due to overhunting and park combines rivers, forests, mountains and waterfalls and is habitat destruction. However, in 1926 a group of 20 birds were home to an array of wildlife including brown bears, Yezo sika discovered in this area and with conservation efforts now deer and red fox. If weather permits, we will take the Shiretoko number more than 1000. We will visit the Kushiro Onnenai Pass offering stunning views of the autumn leaves on Mount Visitor Centre with displays of the fauna and fauna of the region Rausu. Continue to the Shiretoko Nature Centre where we can and views over the marshlands before taking the walking trails learn about the wildlife of the park. Here there will be a choice where we hope to see the cranes and birds in their natural of either a long or short walk through the wilderness on the habitat. Continue to the Kushiro Crane Reserve, which was lookout for wildlife, the autumnal colours and views of the created 60 years ago to protect and preserve the crane lakes. Return to the ship via the Oshin Koshin Waterfall and population and continues to rescue injured birds whilst also remain moored overnight in Abashiri. breeding and releasing young birds into the wild. Return to the ship via the Washo Market where you may wish to eat like a Day 8 Abashiri local by creating your own "rice-bowls" with the market's sushi and sashimi. Alternatively enjoy lunch on board the MS Island Sky followed by an afternoon at leisure. We remain in Kushiro Spend a leisurely morning in Abashiri and learn more about the overnight for anyone wishing to go ashore this evening.

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Day 10 Lake Akan

We will spend our morning around the Shikotsu-Toya National This morning we will drive inland to see one of the most scenic Park, named after the two caldera lakes which offer wonderful lakes of Hokkaido. Arriving at Lake Akan we will board one of scenery and excellent hiking and walking opportunities. This is the local boats for a cruise, providing the perfect vantage point still an active area and a geological wonder with the volcano to the colourful forests lining the banks with views up to the Showa Shin-zan only created in the 1940s. Our day will be surrounding volcanos of Me-Akan and O-Akan. The lake is also flexible around the weather and if it is a clear day we may take famous for marimo, an aggregation of algae which forms into the cable car to the top of Mount Usu for the wonderful views to balls which is unique to this lake. During our cruise we will pass Lake Toya or visit Jigokudani, "Hell Valley", a steaming lunar like by Takiguchi, one of Lake Akan's most beautiful spots, and also valley of steam vents and sulphurous streams formed over visit the observation centre on Churui Island. Enjoy lunch before 10,000 years ago. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the we walk to Akanko Ainu Kotan, where we will be able to see the afternoon at leisure in Muroran, maybe visit the scenic cape traditional crafts and dance and learn about the culture of the and lighthouse or you may wish to walk up Mount Sokuryo indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido before returning to the MS offering views to the city below. Island Sky later this afternoon. Day 13 Hakodate Day 11 Tomakomai & Sapporo

Our final day in Hokkaido will be at the southern port of After a leisurely morning at sea we will arrive into Tomakomai Hakodate. We will make our way to Onuma Park, on the over lunch. From our berth we visit Hokkaido's capital city of outskirts of the city and known for its picturesque, island-dotted Sapporo where we enjoy a tour of the famous brewery. lakes and majestic dormant volcano, Mount Komagatake. We Hokkaido is the birthplace of beer in Japan and it has been have the option to take a series of walks around the lake's brewed in Sapporo since 1877. Our tour of the museum will peninsulas and islands, several of which are connected with introduce the history of the industry and includes a tasting. We each other by small bridges and surrounded by coulourful birch will also visit Takino Suzaran, a huge park on the outskirts of the and maple forests. Return to the MS Island Sky for lunch and city and a must visit location in autumn. We will take walks this afternoon either relax on board or join a city tour which will along the trails through the woodlands, one of which will take include the 19th century Fort Goryokaku, built as a citadel but you to the lovely Ashiribetsu Waterfall. now a public park. We will remain in Hakodate until late for anyone who wishes to take an after-dinner stroll or perhaps Day 12 Muroran even the cable car up Mount Hakodate for the spectacular night views.

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Day 14 Hirosaki return to the ship in Aomori or alternatively, enjoy some free time in the city, visit the market or view the crafts and local produce at the A-Factory market. This morning we arrive in Aomori, on the northern coast of Honshu. Here we can immerse ourselves in Japanese history Day 16 Aomori to Tokyo and culture as we visit the former Feudal town of Hirosaki which was the political capital of the region in the Edo Period. On a tour of the city we will see the small three storey castle, which Disembark this morning and transfer to the train station to was the focal point of the old city and the base of the powerful board our Shinkansen service to Tokyo. A lunch box will be Tsugaru Clan. Surrounding the castle was the samurai and provided on the train before we arrive in the early afternoon. merchant district where we can visit the preserved houses and Transfer to our hotel for some free time before we meet for the Fujita Kinen Teien, a Japanese landscape garden built in dinner this evening. 1919. After a local lunch, we spend the afternoon visiting Neputu Mura Museum showcasing the crafts of the area and Day 17 Tokyo to London dedicated to the annual Neputa festival held in August. We will remain moored overnight in Aomori allowing for an after dinner stroll or dinner ashore. After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London. Day 15 Aomori & Oirase Gorge

Today we will head inland to the spectacular Towada Hachimantai National Park which involves a scenic drive through the Kayano plateau, Hakkoda mountains to the scenic Oirase Valley and Lake Towada, a magnificent ancient caldera lake surrounded by deciduous forests. The scenery is stunning, especially as the hillsides change to red and orange. We will wander the trails at the Tsuta Nana-numa Ponds, a collection of seven lakes which are surrounded by a forest of Japanese beech trees before continuing to Oirase Gorge. The gorge runs for 14 kilometres from Lake Towada to Yakeyama and we will walk alongside the crystal clear Oirase stream seeing the beautiful scenery, autumnal foliage and waterfalls. After lunch

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: ISLAND SKY

YOUR SHIP: Island Sky

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With a maximum passenger capacity of only 116, a vessel of her size is capable of carrying many more but instead the MS Island Sky has the benefit of unusually large suites, luxuriously appointed public areas and spacious outside decks. and peace of a well run and exceedingly comfortable ship. There is a high ratio of crew to passengers- the friendly crew of Your SuiteOnboard there are 57 exceptionally spacious and well 75 crew and Scandinavian captains are experienced mariners, designed suites. All feature a sitting room area and some have having been in service aboard large 2000 plus passenger private balconies. The feeling of luxury is enhanced by the wood vessels and who now prefer a less frantic life aboard a small panelling and brass, which predominates throughout the vessel ship. If, like them and us, you prefer a more peaceful life at sea, conveying the atmosphere of a private yacht. The passenger you will find the MS Island Sky the perfect ship. When choosing accommodation is arranged over five decks and all suites have the vessel for your next voyage of discovery, you can select a outside views. Each affords considerable comfort with en-suite ship with endless entertainment and impersonal service or bathroom featuring marble-topped vanity unit with sink and come with us where peace, high quality service and attention to walk-in shower, large wardrobes, dressing table with large mirror detail are the order of the day. We promise there will be no and stool and excellent storage. There is a mini-fridge, flat organised entertainment, fancy dress, deck games or any of the screen television with inbuilt DVD player which can also play usual big ship experiences. The atmosphere on board is more CDs and a telephone in each suite. Bottled water, towelling akin to a private yacht or country hotel. A little music in the dressing gowns and slippers are also provided for your comfort. lounge or bar after dinner, guest speakers, informative port Other facilities include a programmable electronic safe, briefings from our cruise director and of course good food which hairdryer, assorted toiletries and individually controlled may be enjoyed leisurely in the attractive dining room. After a air-conditioning and heating. The suites on each deck have their day ashore you will return to the comfort

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com own colour theme. Soft hues and blended tones enhance the traditional maritime style making the passenger accommodation an inviting and relaxing place to be. Your SpaceThe spacious and finely decorated public rooms include a large lounge where daily briefings and talks will be provided throughout the voyage and an elegant bar where a pianist plays periodically throughout the day. The bar also features a 24-hour tea and coffee station. The onboard library is the perfect place to relax with a book and is stocked with reference books pertaining to the places the vessel is visiting along with a selection of games and two computers with internet access. Daily newspapers and magazines are also placed in the library depending on local availability. There is also WI-FI access throughout the vessel. Outside there is a rear sun deck where meals are served in warm weather under shade, a bar and comfortable deck furniture for sun bathing or relaxing with a book. On the top deck there is a Jacuzzi and further observation and sun deck. There is also a small hairdressers on board with appointments made on request. Your DiningAnother benefit of a small ship is the quality of the cuisine. With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100 passengers, the galley is able to provide delicious meals. Where possible and when it meets his high standards, the chef will obtain local produce in markets or buy the catch of the day from a passing fishing boat. Such purchases enhance the well stocked larders and bring a local touch to the varied menus.

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com INSIDE YOUR SHIP

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01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com